Thought Leadership

Credit unions are quietly rewriting the automation playbook in financial services. The latest research reveals a strategic insight that challenges conventional wisdom: 67% of credit unions prefer fintech partnerships for automation implementation—the highest adoption rate among all institution types.This isn't about being tech-forward for technology's sake. It's about credit unions recognizing something fundamental: the right automation partnerships can amplify their member-first mission rather than compromise it.

SVP, General Counsel from the Consumer Bankers Association discusses navigating regulatory uncertainty and building durable compliance frameworks 

Chief Risk Officer from Great Southern Bank shares insights on technology, customer relationships, and strategic partnerships 

Like many businesses across the U.S., community and regional banks face challenges stemming from economic fluctuations, regulatory reforms, and shifting consumer preferences. To navigate these headwinds, they’re leveraging their unique strengths, such as personalized customer interactions and local market insights, and implementing innovative technologies like the nCino Consumer Banking Solution.

The consumer lending market has seen monumental shifts over the last decade. From the rise of fintechs to new regulatory measures, these changes have reshaped how we borrow and lend. Understanding and responding to trends in the market is crucial for financial institutions of all sizes.

Recently, nCino brought together several of our European Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) clients to discuss industry trends. During the session, we highlighted how our solution supports CIB lenders in delivering personalised experiences from acquisition through to balance sheet and fostering stronger client relationships.Navigating Economic Volatility with Legacy TechnologyThe current economic environment, driven by interest rate and other inflationary pressures, is impacting profitability and risk management in CIB lending unlike anything we’ve seen in the last decade. Alongside economic pressures, compliance with evolving regulations remains a top concern and shows no signs of slowing down. Policy changes increasingly need to be enacted in real time – something legacy technology is not equipped to do. These systems, characterised by disparate data and manual processes, are hindering banks' ability to adapt quickly to a changing market, capture and report on data, and gain actionable insights from their portfolio.

Dodd-Frank 1071’s final rule, issued on March 30th, 2023, one day before the critical amendment to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) was anticipated to be finalized, is a game-changer for small business lenders.The rule mandates that financial institutions report certain lending data points for small business lending, including demographic data on women-owned, minority-owned and LGBTQI+-owned small businesses. This data will be used by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to enforce fair lending laws and to identify community needs and access to credit. The data collected under the rule will also be used to develop new programs and initiatives to support small businesses.When a financial institution (FI) is required to collect and report the required data is dependent upon the number of small business loans originated during 2022 and 2023. The earliest date an FI is required to begin collecting data is October, 1, 2024 (2,500 originations) with time extensions to April 1, 2025 (100 or 500 to 2,500 originations) or January 1, 2026 (at least 100 originations), depending on circumstances.The rule is a complex one, and FIs will need to take steps to comply with it. As your FI prepares to conform to the new requirements, here are some actions to consider.

Forrester’s Vision: Measure Digital Success and Drive Profitable Growth report introduces Forrester’s digital measurement framework and shows financial institutions how to properly define the right metrics to track and improve the success of their digital efforts.

The imperative for digital account opening is high due to competitive pressures, but mistakes in implementation can hinder success. Financial institutions should avoid missteps such as underestimating integration complexity, neglecting marketing needs, failing to cross-sell across business lines, separating application processing from onboarding, and not continuously monitoring and improving the process.